China Shakes the World

Light on China

by Jack Belden

Book by Belden, Jack

Genres: China, History, Politics, Nonfiction

524 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1949

About the author

Jack Belden was an American journalist & war correspondent. He covered the Japanese invasion of China, the Second World War and the Chinese Civil War.

Reviews

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

The strength of this book is the groundbreaking events Belden was able to witness. It's an on-the-ground look at the Chinese Revolution in process, with a much broader scope than say Fanshen, and it's great and inspiring as hell. The narrative is much weaker though when he relies upon second-hand accounts, which often come across as much less plausible. And the (relatively few until the last chapter) times he writes his own viewpoints and opinions it descends into the liberalism and Orientalism you would expect of a 1940s American man.

[Hans · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second time that I read this book. I thought it so fantastic.
It is a very detailed description of China 1946-1949. It shows why the revolution just had to happen and why it was a good thing that it did happen.
It's fantastic grass roots research and an amazing time to be in China.
At the end of this period many tyrants have left the stage and people again have hope. Also China finally became independent again.

[Jeff McLeod · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful recounting of events in China between 1937 and 1949 from a war correspondent who saw and experienced them firsthand. In classic American fashion, there's a lot of ridiculous speculation and sweeping statements about philosophy and politics at the end that drag it down a bit -- it shines most brightly when Belden is recounting his conversations and meetings with Chinese people engaged in transforming their society. He had his finger on the pulse of the motivations of the masses in China, and his critique of American support for the Kuomintang and Chaing Kai-shek is incisive, despite being a bit naive or obfuscatory about the motivations for that support (upholding the interests of Western capitalism and imperialism).

[Kevin · Rating 3 out of 5]

really immersive book about the fedual system of china under Chain Kaishek and the subsequent communist uprising. I really enjoyed the personal feel from the stories of Beldens adventures through China's countryside. One asks, is communism still the enemy if it replaces feudalism? or how much of the unsavory parts of the CCP is intrinsic to the despotic nature that has ruled the country for centuries?

became kind of an exhaustive read at the end to me, had to put it down.

[Jon Black · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sadly held back by some orientalism by the author, nonetheless and extremely important first hand account of the Chinese civil war and well worth reading

[Marisi Sitorus]

Aku punya buku terjemahannya (Terbitan Van Houten, Bandung). Terbitan tahun jadul. Buku ini berkisah tentang seorang (wartawan?) yang pergi ke China daratan pada masa revolusi. Dia mencatat sekelumit tentang kisah perjalanannya selama disana. Sudah lama bacanya sekitar tahun awal 2001. Jadi lupa-lupa ingat :-D